Evidence in Spilotro Case Thrown Out

SAN FRANCISCO — Key evidence in a Las Vegas racketeering case has been thrown out by a federal appeals court because the search warrants were “hopelessly general.”

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a lower court properly suppressed evidence of more than 5,000 pieces of jewelry police said they found in a Las Vegas jewelry store owned by the late Anthony Spilotro.

Records and papers found in the home and safe deposit box of Las Vegas policeman Joseph Blasko also were covered by the suppression order.

The racketeering charges involve accusations that stolen jewelry was fenced and altered at the jewelry store.

Spilotro, who police said was the Las Vegas representative of the Chicago mob, and his brother Michael were found dead in an Indiana cornfield in June. Another brother, John, is a co-defendant in the jewelry case, as is an alleged associate, Herbert Blitzstein.

Oscar Goodman, who represented the defendants on appeal, said the ruling wipes out the government’s case. “They’ve got nothing else,” he said.